2014 Budget Summary

2014 was a CRAZY year!  I started working almost full time.  Joe and I added a new member to the family, Howard, and with the addition came an increase in the grocery budget from $200 to $300 a month.  This number includes diapers, wipes, and baby food, as well as TP, and health and beauty aides.  Since we did so well with this increase in 2014, we are going to keep our budget the same for 2015!  I would like to increase our earnings some, which means more listing on Amazon, earning more Swag Bucks, and searching for more ECB deals and MIR's!  Overall this was an amazing year for the Rogers family, budget included!

• January: $159.34 oop (out of $160), Earned $96.94
• February: $194.58 (out of $200), Earned $204.33
• March: $263.58 (out of $262.35), Earned $433.79
• April: $315.76 (out of $300), Earned $147.55
• May: $289.67 oop (out of $300), Earned $158.06
• June: $264.78 (out of $300). Earned $77.38
• July: $333.35 (out of $300), Earned $57.99
• August: $218.34 (out of $300), Earned $49.67
• September: $241.68 (out of $300), Earned $31
• October: $288.89 (out of $300), Earned $42.09
• November: $288.00 (out of $300), Earned $134.92
• December: $300.33 (out of $300), Earned $106.49

Total OOP: $3158.30 (out of $3322.35)
Under Budget by: $164.05!!!!
Total Earned: $1540.21

December Budget Update

 Well, December was a whirl-wind kind of month!  I worked up until 3 days before Christmas, so I had 3 days to thoroughly clean the house, do all of my baking and the baking for the few orders I had to fill, run my errands, finish the Christmas present wrapping, go to Christmas eve service at church, and do all the prep work for our family Christmas dinner, which I was hosting.  But I worked my butt off all three days, while Joe graciously watched Howard for me, and I was able to rest, and enjoy Christmas with both of our families!  Since December means a LOT of cookie baking and splurging of good things for Christmas dinner, I was pleasantly surprised to have only gone $0.33 over budget this month!  Here's the breakdown...

• Week #1: $1.25 oop, Earned $3 ECB's
• Week #2: $96.68 oop, Earned $14 ECB's, and 2 - $5 Amazon Gift Cards from Swag Bucks
• Week #3: $129.43 oop, Earned $22.99 ECB's
• Week #4: $50.82 oop, Earned $22.50 ECB's
• Week #5: $22.15 oop, Earned $34 ECB's

Total OOP: $300.33
Total Earned: $106.49
Total Remaining: - $0.33

Weekly Spending Report: 12/28/2014-01/03/2015

Since we didn't need much this week, and we're living off of Christmas leftovers, I decided to just roll my rewards at CVS and drop into Target and see what clearance they had left, which wasn't much.  Here's what I ended up with...

• Monday's CVS Trip (picture is missing 1 box Ziploc freezer bags): $22.15 oop, Earned $34 ECB's (includes $5 Beauty Reward from body wash and lotion, and $5 CVS Reward wyb $30 for the diapers and previous purchases)

• Monday's Target Trip (Sorry for the crappy picture, but there are 2 boxes of tissues, 2 bottles rubbing alcohol, 3 bottles of witch hazel, a block of cheese, 3-3 ct K cups which were on clearance with the cheese, and 1 cup of cat food I used a free item coupon on, I also used some Target coupons): Zero oop - used a gift card to pay 

Total OOP: $22.15
Total Earned: $34
Total Remaining: - $0.33

Weekly Spending Report: 12/21-27/2014

 

Joe, Howard, and I spent a lovely Christmas with both of our families.  We hosted Christmas dinner this year, which I thought was going to be stressful with a baby under 1 in the house, but I was able to do a lot of things ahead of time, so I was able to relax and enjoy Christmas day.  We all got loads of wonderful presents, including Howard, who is now inundated with toys ;-)  We did a LOT of shopping on the 26th for next years Christmas - we're about 65% done already!  I didn't post those purchases here because they come out of a different budget, and include Christmas presents -- you never know who may be reading!  Any way, here's how the week went down...

• Tuesday's ALDI Trip (stevia packets, heavy cream, organic 2% milk, granola bars, sour cream, squeeze applesauce pouches, and canned green beans): $21.56 oop
• Wednesday's Giant Trip: $16.09 oop

• Wednesday's CVS Trip: $9.99, Earned $22.50 ECB's

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip (2 newspapers, 1 pair of clearance Christmas camo socks for Howard, and a clearance snowflake nightlight for Howard's room): $3.18 oop

Total OOP: $50.82
Total Earned: $22.50
Total Remaining for December: $21.82

Weekly Spending Report: 12/14-20/2014

I spent a LOT this week, but with all the holiday baking and starting to purchase things for our family Christmas dinner, I think I still did pretty good!  Here's how it all went down...

• Sunday's Baugher's Trip (basket of FL Navel Oranges, 1/2 bushel of Apples, and a small Cabbage): $16.62 oop
• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $22.59 oop

• Monday's Wal-mart Trip (2 Hand Soap Refills, and 2 bottles Witch Hazel): $11.30 oop
• Monday's CVS Trip: $15.20 oop, Earned $22.99 ECB's

• Tuesday's Giant Trip: $27.04 oop

• Tuesday's Kohl's Trip: Zero OOP!  (Saved $114)

• Saturday's ALDI Trip (baking supplies, apple sauce pouches, and things for Christmas dinner): $36.68 oop 

Total OOP: $129.43
Total Earned: $22.99
Total Remaining for December: $72.64

Weekly Spending Report: 12/07-13/2014

This was a great week of stocking up, especially for baking items and things we needed for the baby, like diapers and 'chewing' foods.  I was also able to pick up some needed items for Christmas baking and dinner.  Here's how the week went down...

• Monday's Giant Trip: $39.65 oop

• Monday's ALDI Trip: $29.06 oop

• Monday's CVS Trip: $26.04, Earned $14 ECB's

• Thursday's Walgreen's Trip: $1.93 oop
• Earned 2 - $5 Amazon Gift Cards from Swagbucks

Total oop: $96.68
Total Earned: $24
Total Remaining for December: $202.07

Weekly Spending Report: 11/30-12/06/2014

A nice easy start to December.  I didn't really need anything at the store this week, so I just stopped in and rolled some ECB's.  Here's what I was able to pick up...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $1.25 oop, Earned $3 ECB's

Total OOP: $1.25
Total Earned: $3
Total Remaining for December: $298.75

November Budget Update

November was an AMAZING month -- not only did I get some AMAZING deals, but I was able to stay under budget.  Here's how the month went down...

• Week #1: $67.63 oop, Earned $10 CVS Gift Card @ CVS, $10 CVS Gift Card from Swag Bucks, $8.99 MIR, and $4.79 Staples Easy Rebate
• Week #2: $67.16 oop, Earned $10 CVS Gift Card, $2 ECB's. and $2.80 Staples Easy Rebate
• Week #3: $122.11 oop, Earned $10 CVS Gift Card, $1.50 ECB's, and $2.80 Staples Easy Rebate
• Week #4: $31.10 oop, Earned $63.54 ECB's, and $8.50 RR's

Total OOP: $288
Total Earned: $134.92
Total Remaining: $12
 

Weekly Spending Report: 11/23-29/2014

I look forward to Thanksgiving week every year, not only because of the time together with family, and the delicious food, but for the AWESOME deals there are to be had while shopping!!!  Here are the amazing deals I scored...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $15.14 oop, Earned $45.57 ECB's

• Thursday's Walgreen's Trip: $5.95 oop, Earned $8.50 RR's

• Thursday's CVS Trip: $7.89 oop, Earned $17.97 ECB's

•  Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip (2 newspapers): $2.12 oop
  

Total OOP: $31.10
Total Earned: $72.04
Total Remaining for November: $12.00

Linked to Couponaholic! 

Weekly Spending Report: 11/16-22/2014

This was another AWESOME week of deals!  I have a feeling that I'm going to go over budget this month -- I kinda forgot about the Black Friday deals at the drug stores next week, so we'll see...  Here's what we picked up this week, which included my Thanksgiving meals items...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $32.07 oop, Earned $1.50 ECB's, and $10 CVS Gift Card

• Monday's ALDI Trip: $27.16 oop

• Monday's Staples Trip (1 ream Paper): $2.98 oop, Earned $2.80 Easy Rebate
• Monday's Giant Trip (not pictured 2 frozen pizzas): $40.00 oop

• Monday's Baugher's Trip (2-1/2 lb bushels #2 grade apples): $19.90 oop

Total OOP: $122.11
Total Earned: $14.30
Total Remaining for November: $43.10

Linked to Couponaholic!